Increasing Business--Large Cotton Receipts--Political Excitement, &c.

The extensive settlement of East Alabama, as a sequence of the removal of the Indians from that section, now began to show its effects in a considerable increase of the trade of Columbus. The cotton receipts were largely augmented, and trade improved in a corresponding ratio. Altogether, the situation seems to have been as favorable as could reasonably have been expected, considering the unsettled condition of business and finances throughout the country.

This was the year of the noted Presidential contest between the political parties supporting Harrison and Van Buren, respectively and Columbus shared largely in the excitement and enthusiasm of the contest, the majority of the citizens siding with the party that elected Harrison.

At the Presidential election in November, the City gave the Harrison Electoral ticket 824 votes, and the Van Buren ticket 503. In the whole county the vote stood, Harrison 1,044, Van Buren 811.

At the October election of this year J. S. Calhoun was elected Senator, and Messrs. Flournoy, Chipley, Alexander and Sapp (Harrison men) Representatives.

At the municipal election, held on the first Saturday in January, the following gentlemen were chosen Mayor and Aldermen:
Mayor, W. H. Harper;
Aldermen,
1st Ward, John W. Campbell, J. C. Austin
2nd Ward, J. B. Wood, G. W. Martin
3d Ward, Wiley Williams, J. C. Ruse
4th Ward, Homer Hurd, Thomas C. Watson
5th Ward, John D. Howell, J. L. Morton
6th Ward, Joseph Sturgis, Hiram Brooks

In the election by Council at their first meeting the following City officers were chosen:
Treasurer, John Bethune, Esq.
Marshal, A. K. Ayer
Clerk, Calvin Stratton
City Attorney, D. Golightly
City Physician, A. Pond

Mr. Golightly declined the office of City Attorney, and Philip T. Schulz was elected in his stead.

This was an entire change of city officers elected by the people, except the Aldermen of the 6th Ward.

A strong support was given to motions to reduce salaries and one or two reductions were carried on the first vote, but this was subsequently reconsidered, and the salaries as finally agreed upon differed but little from those of the year pre ceding.

One of the first acts of the new Council was to repeal the ordinance requiring the enrollment of all the citizens for patrol duty. In lieu thereof, each citizen, heretofore liable, was taxed three dollars for exemption, and those refusing to pay this tax were held to be still liable to patrol duty, and ordered to be organized therefore.

Council elected the following health officers for the year 1840:
1st Ward, Dr. A. I. Robison, Dr. S. Boykin, Dr. A. Hunt
2nd Ward, Dr. John E. Bacon, Dr. W. K. Schley, Thos. W. Berry
3d Ward, Dr. E. Sankey, Dr. J. J. Boswell, Elisha Reid
4th Ward, Dr. L. Holt, Thomas Sanders, James Kivlin
5th Ward, L. C. Allen, Alexander McDonald, E. Wells
6th Ward, Dr. J. W. Turner, Wm. Blair, B. F. Coleman

The office of Deputy Marshal was created in January, and Wm. H. Alston elected.

The contract system for crossing the bridge was at first, abandoned by this Council, and in lieu thereof a reduction of 33 ⅛ per cent, was made from the regular rates of toll in favor of citizens of Muscogee and Russell Counties. Wood haulers were allowed to cross free with their loads, and lumber haulers at half rates; preachers free. But this resolution was soon reconsidered and the contract system again adopted, with the above named exceptions.

The Treasurer was instructed to issue $20,000 City money, in small notes, to furnish change, and afterwards $525 was paid for the engraving of the notes.

Among other measures of retrenchment proposed was one to dispense with the use of lamps for the year, which only failed by the casting vote of the Mayor, at the meeting on the 8th of February, was adopted at the meeting on the 19th of the same month, and again reconsidered on the 22d.

The Committee on City Improvements reported that they had not the means of ascertaining the practicability of introducing water into the City, and the finances of the City would not then allow it, though desirable. Adopted.

The county authorities of Russell County, Ala., had assessed the one acre lot in Girard, on which the western abutment of the bridge rested, at $10,000, and taxed it accordingly. A committee of Council, in March, reported that Russell County had a right to make this assessment, but the courts had a right to revise it, and recommended an appeal to the courts. Adopted.

Cotton opened in January at 7 to 7¼ cents, with large receipts, and freights to Apalachicola $2.50 per bale. The price declined during the spring and summer, but advanced again in the fall, when it became apparent that the crop would be smaller than was anticipated. We find it quoted in November at from 8 to 9 cents, and the last quotation in December is from 7 to 9c. The Enquirer, on the 28th of April, estimated the receipts of Columbus up to that time, since the 1st of September, 1839, at 50,000 bales, but it had no actual returns. This was fully double the amount that had been received the preceding year to same date.

The first notice of the appearance of the cotton caterpillar, which we have found in our examination of the Columbus papers, is during this year. The destruction by them was very great. Their appearance was first reported on the 26th of August. The first bale of new cotton was received on the 24th of August. It was grown by Newton Freeman, of Russell County, Ala., and sold at 8¾c.

The Sexton reported interments in the city cemetery from the 1st of January to the 1st of April, 3; from 1st June to 1st July, 7.

On the 12th September A. B. Eagan was elected an Alderman for the Franklin ward, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of John C. Austin.

On the 10th of October, the committee appointed for that purpose by the Council, reported that they had, in cooperation with a similar committee appointed by the county authorities, examined the new Courthouse built by Messrs. John and Wells Godwin, contractors, and had approved and accepted the same. Subsequently the claim of Messrs. Godwin for extra pay for work not included in the contract was submitted to arbitration, and the sum of $6,000 awarded to them for such extra work.

Incidents

A man named Goodwin was killed in Columbus, on the 7th of April, by one Caldwell, of Girard. He shot Goodwin while the latter was attempting to escape arrest by an officer.

A man named Moody, who had been in the City but a short time and of whom but little was known, committed suicide near the cemetery in April.

On the 27th of June, William Alexander, eldest son of Dr. A. H. Flewellen, was drowned in the Chattahoochee.

Girard, this year, had a post office and a newspaper. W. B. Harris, Esq., was Postmaster. The paper was called the Alabama State Register, and was edited by Benj. Gardner.

At the 4th of July celebration, Dr. L. Pierce offered prayer, Dr. J. B. Hoxey read the Declaration, and N. L. Howard, Esq., delivered the oration. Col. A. K. Ayer was Marshal of the day.

John Schley, Esq., was appointed Postmaster of the City in July, succeeding Mr. Van Ness, who did not seek a re-appointment, and who had been the Postmaster since 1828.

The steamboat LeRoy, Washington Smith master, exploded her boilers opposite Blount town, on the Chattahoochee River, September 24th, by which six persons were killed and several wounded. Mr. Willis Alston was the only passenger hurt. The boat was owned by mail contractors Hopkins & Stockton.

All the Banks of the State were required to make periodic reports of their condition for publication. It used to be said (perhaps maliciously) that the wheelbarrow acted an important part in these showings, in cities which had more than one bank; that after the specie had been counted in one bank it would be wheeled over to another to be reported in its assets also, and thus gave to the whole of them a fictitious strength. This year the Columbus Bank had $377,218 of bills issued, and $163,291.58 of deposits, and due other banks $74,289 - $614,798.63. Due by other banks and agents $220,000.82; specie, notes of other banks, &c., $217,297.26 - $437,228.68. The St. Mary's Bank reported $29,915 of notes in circulation, and $14,555.52 in specie; the Chattahoochee Railroad and Banking Company had $109,420 notes in circulation and $62,110.87 in specie. The Insurance Bank of Columbus had $5,289 in circulation and $25,790 in specie. All these Columbus banks afterwards broke, but they were paying specie this year, and very few banks in the State were doing so.

The following were ruling prices on Dec. 9th, quoted by J. E. Davis, exchange broker, and F. McMurray, grocer: Sight bills on New York 7 to 7 ½ per cent, premium; Charleston, 6 per cent; Savannah, 3½ to 4; New Orleans, 4 to 4½; specie, 4 per cent; bagging, 25 to 35 (the latter India;) rope, 12½; hams, 15; sides and shoulders, 9; butter, 25 to 37; candles, 18 (tallow) to 62½ (sperm;) coffee, 15 to 16; corn, 40; wheat, 75; oats, 37½; brandy, $1 75 to $2; whisky (Irish,) $4; Monongahela, 87½ to $1; Sugar (N. O.,) 10 to 12; loaf, 18 to 25.

Personal

The county officers elected on the 1st Monday in January, were:
Sheriff, S. B. Bonner
Clerk Superior Court, A. Levison
Clerk Inferior Court, N. McLester
Tax Collector, T. A. Brannon
Tax Receiver, John C. W. Rogers
Coroner, Bartlett Weeks
Surveyor, John E. Lamar

At the Spring term of Muscogee Superior Court for 1840, the following gentlemen served as Grand Jurors: John Woolfolk, Bird F. Robinson, John H. Ware, C. D. Stewart, F. D. Toby, David Wright, Elijah Corley, A. L. Watkins, E. C. Bandy, J. Barrow, Peter V. Guerry, Thomas M. Sanders, Josiah Grimes, A. M. Walker, G. W. Ross, A. I. Robison, Elisha Tarver, T. A. Thornton, Asa Bates, Wm. P. Malone.

Dr. Goulding opened a select school in January; and Mr. Wayland, "graduate of an English University," opened a high school in February.

A meeting of mechanics of the City, opposed to Mr. Van Buren, was held in October, and as we obtain from the list of signers the names of a large number (probably a considerable majority) of the mechanics in Columbus at that time, we copy the list:

F. Toby, carpenter
M. D. Jones, blacksmith
J. S. Norman, saddler
D. W. Upton, carpenter
P. A. Jepson, brick maker
J. M. Williams and N. McC. Robinson, (afterwards Marshal of city), brick layers
O. P. McLane, silversmith
Daniel Robinson and Wm. Robinson, engineers
Daniel Roe, tailor
J. Terry, carpenter (after wards sexton and merchant)
Joseph Pranglen, plasterer
Richard Owens, carpenter
William B. Bell, ship carpenter
John B. Peabody, silversmith
Peter Crichton, baker
W. I. Rylander, blacksmith
William Jepson, Simeon Guthrie, carpenters
J. A. Moore, Sterling Terry, boot-makers
Elisha Reid, silversmith;
Homer Kurd, tailor
Oliver Jeter, printer
Moses Simmons, bricklayer
J. D. Hughes, Wheelwright
Charles H. Heite, blacksmith
John L. Mustian
R. N. R. Bardwell, John A. Sears, Thomas Nix (afterwards sexton), carpenters;
Jos. Johnson, engineer
George Betz, tailor
William Gilbert, saddler
H. C. McKee, J. L. Prickett, carriage makers
J. Freeman, William Mormon, carpenters
Nathan Gray, bookbinder
V. S. Townsley, blacksmith
Jas. Terry, F. A. Bosworth, carpenters
John F. Bosworth, printer
James Sullivan, Silas McMichael, carpenters
J. Haller, B. Pricket, carriage makers
J. M. McDuffie, Randal McNeil, painter
J. M. McClesky, cabinet maker
Jno. N. Harris, carpenter
J. M. Hogan, carpenter
Larkin Farr, cooper
Wm. Reid, carriage maker
R. T. Marks, painter
E. H. Day, printer
Chas. Rule, plasterer
Moses Garrett, painter
Jos. Jepson, carpenter
J. J. Ballinger, carriage trimmer
Wm. A. Piggatt, G. A. Dill, J. R. Young, T. R. Herrindine, Francis Terry, T. P. Noblett, Hervey Crews, Jno. Partridge, carpenters
Benj. Buell, painter
N. G. Smith, Jas. Rosseau, wagon makers
Wm. Pride, bricklayer
Benj. Jepson, brick maker
J. B. Strupper, candy maker
T. Reid, gun maker (best gun maker in the United States)
J. L. Holmes, carpenter
J. S. Williams, engineer
W. C. Clapp, tinner
J. C. Alston, Horace Clapp, R. McNeil, P. K. Edgar, S. R. Andrews, J. S. Walton, A. L. Alfred, James Reid, carpenters
W. B. Robinson, bricklayer
Jno. Griffin Thweatt, L. Denigin, printers
George Smith, plasterer
B. G. Kenneth, carpenter

The resolutions were subsequently signed by the following:

Wagonmakers--
George C., and R. and Richard Yarbrough
William M. Martin
William Holt
Randal Moore
Enoch Dudley
Engineer--
Robert Kelly
Brickmakers--
Aaron Ferguson
Burnet Ingram
Stephen Lewis
Wm Salisbury
John Rounds
Tailors--
Blake Robinson
Henry Mathews
Upholsterer--
Wm. Green
Carpenters--
D. W. Broom
Thos. Miles,
L. Jepson,
Jos. Moorefleld
Dan'l Sauls
Hiram Howard
Hugh McCall
W. S. Holstead
Edward Acee
N. Terry
Wiley Adams
J. D. Harley
D. J. Rees
Thos. Jepson
R. C. Patterson
W. B. Holtzclaw
T. W. Bowen
G. B. C. Terry
Richard Burt
Blacksmith--
J. Roberts
Shoemaker--
Jno. Mott
Jas. Shaw
Cabinet makers--
J. M. Morgan
John May
Silversmith--
Jacob Fogle
Mill right--
J. J. Purnell
Saddler--
H. Middlebrook
Printer--
T. C. Connoly

So at that time Columbus had 73 white carpenters, 15 blacksmiths, 19 brickmakers and layers, 8 engineers, 14 tailors, &c., all of the Harrison party.

Hon. M. J. Wellborn was Judge of the Superior Court, and John H. Watson Solicitor.

The grand jurors on October 17th were: Thomas Berry (foreman,) James M. Chambers, William Clark, James C. Cook, Alfred O. Blackmar, John Johnson, David Hudson, Anderson Hunt, John G. Hitchcock, Micajah W. Thweatt, William H. Kimbrough, Robert A. Ware, William Y. Barden, Eldridge S. Greenwood, Thos. J. Shivers, Walter H. Weems, George W. Turrentine, John Peabody.

Marriages

From The Newspapers

March 26—James McDuffle and Susan Kent, of Girard.
April 15—S. T. Chapman, of Columbus, and Cornelia Isabella Dick. In Barnwell, S. C.
June 7—George E. Sherwood and Martha W. Spencer.
June 16—James L. Stockton, of Tennessee, and Eliza J. Wimberly.
June 30—John A. Norton and Mary A. E. Sturgis.
Sept. 10—Chester G. Holmes, of Apalachicola, and Eugenia, daughter of Col. W. H. Harper.

We find on the record of 1839 and on, some marriages recorded which took place before the records were destroyed in the burning of the Court House in October, 1838. They are inserted here as matters of interest, not having been discovered till the previous years had passed through the press.

From The Record

1835
March 1, James S. Moore and Martha M. Tarver.
April 23, Ephraim C. Baudy and Mariah E. Burnes;
April 23, Richard Hooper and Louisa P. Shivers.
May 10, Larkin Farr and Martha Wilks.
May 14, John S. Bell and Charlotte Craige.
Nov. 19, Benjamin Wells and Louisa Curtis.

1837
March 10, James L. DeLaney and Margaret J. Brewer.
Aug. 2, John Johnson and Hannah Briggs.
Oct. 25, James D. Johnson and Eliza Daily.

1838
Jan. 16,James M. Watt and Treacy McCrary.
March 15, Frances Fayerwether and Mary J. Moore.
June 7, Hero Tapper and Clarissa Evans.
Sept. 29, John Fagen and Eliza Anderson.
May 16, John B. Dozier and Emily E. Huff.
Nov: 28, Wm. M. Clemmons and Elizabeth Phillips.

1840
Jan. 2, Wm. Lain and Mary A. M. Morris
Jan. 2, Andrew J. Baggett and Elizabeth Cook;
Jan. 2, Wiley Weaver and Eliza Fontaine.
Jan. 9, W-H. Howard and Harriet Howard
Jan. 9, William Powers and Margaret Hearn.
Jan. 12, Jas. W. Thompson and M. A. Orderly.
Jan. 6, Ambrose Davie and Anna Philip.
Jan. 23, Elbert Duke and Margaret Lowry.
Jan. 21, Neil Culpepper and Eliza Channel.
Jan. 27, Willi.ita Roland and Rebecca Harrison.
Jan. 30, Jesse M. Bead and Elizabeth II. Ligon.
Feb. 4, Simon W. Driver and Eleanor W. Fleming.
Feb.10, Frederick W. Dixon and Mary A. Roland.
Feb. 16, Robert C. Patterson and Sarah A. Hickey.
Feb. 19, Zena Roland and Malinda Wilson.
Feb. 20, H. Vanhorn and Emily Christian.
Feb. 23, Samuel Beck and Sarah Rodney
Feb. 23, Franklin Greer and Elizabeth Chordre
Feb. 23, Alfred T. Slaughter and Martha Williams.
March 2, Thomas Roland and Martha Knotts.
March 27, James Abercrombie and Sarah A. Abercrombie.
April 2, Rufus K. Mills, of Alabama, and Sarah A. Porter.
April 12, James H. Patrick and Nancy Johnson.
April 22, Reuben R. Hudgins and Olive Wells.
April 23, Thomas W. Watson and Fredonia C. Holmes.
April 30, James Howell and Malinda Shoftner.
May 10, William Barrow and Mary A. Walker.
June 18, John F. Boon and Mary H. John.
June 26, John A. Brown and Tamar Blackmar.
June 30, Daniel Strough and Mary Cox.
July 2, Thomas Wayland and Jane Leigh.
July 8, Edward E. Wade and Lucy Blake.
July 15, Dr. Leroy Holt and Mary Ann Sankey.
July 29, John A. Walker and Frances M. Coleman.
Aug. 6, Henry J. Eilbeck and Sarah A. H. Cook
Aug. 6, William Short and Mary V. P. Lambs.
Aug. 5, William J. Duke and Delia Duke.
Aug. 10, J. J. Claxton and Susannah Doringer.
Aug. 13, James McGrath and Eliza Dobbs.
Aug. 20, Matthew Beck and Mary Sanders.
Aug. 26, Isham Hicks and C. A. Goss.
Aug. 27, James McGowan and Mary Nobles.
Sept. 10, Daniel R. Fox and Catharine McGinty.
Sept. 25, Asa Henry and Elizabeth Hortan.

Oct. 22, Robert L. Moore and Mary Askew.
Oct. 29, Harvey W. Nance and Elizabeth Blackman.
Nov. 5, John Hatten and Sarah A. E. King.
Nov. 12, Sterling J. Terry and Elizabeth A. Chapman;
Nov. 12, Seaborn Sneed and Ataline Slaughter.
Nov. 17, Wm. C. Prather and Emily C. Grimes.
Nov. 19, Randall McNeill and Sarah Fisher.
Nov. 23, Samuel Webster and Elizabeth Mackey.
Nov. 24, Thos. D. Fortson and Eliza. A. Pruett.
Nov. 25, Charles Rule and Eveline Giddings.
Nov. 26, Wm. Price and Caroline M. Tillman.
Dec. 10, Walter T. Colquitt and Aphia B. Fauntleroy;
Dec. 10, Henry Reese and Sarah Ann Styles.
Dec. 11, Edward Acre and Elizabeth Armstrong.
Dec. 17, John I. Grant and Martha Shippey;
Dec. 17, Robert Newsome and Mary A. Smith.
Dec. 27, F. M. Doles and Mary L. Seger.
Dec. 30, Jackson Baxley and Harriet Bachelder.

Deaths

Jan. 5—Simon Brazille.
Jan. 25—Col. Western W. Ford.
March 12—Arthur Shaaf, son of Hon. Alfred Iverson.
April 26—Mrs. Harriet Susan Taylor, wife of Dr. E. T. Taylor.
May 6—Mrs. N. D. Laird, wife of Dr. O. P. Laird.
June 26—In Girard, Benj. Pinron Tarver.
June 30--Ann America, child of A. O. Blackmar.
July 7—Near the City, Robt. F. Cook, a native of Virginia.
July 19—Eliza Ann Fletcher, infant child of Josiah Roberts.
August 1—Mrs. Agnew Baker, wife of Rev. Joseph S. Baker, pastor of the Baptist Church.
August 20—Mrs. Catharine Long, wife of Col. N. W. Long, of Russell County.
Sept. 9—Rev. Samuel K. Hodges.
Sept. 10—Joseph D. Bethune.
Sept. 15—Miss Antonette Virginia Rutherford.
Sept. 26—Mrs. Mary Ann Moore, wife of Robt. L. Moore.
Sept. 2—In Muscogee, Wm. Scurlock, a Revolutionary soldier, aged 81.